While I was folding, a song came on that I immediately recognized from the movie Love Actually. Though I don’t remember, it’s also in Four Weddings and a Funeral, which was written and directed by the same guy. I always assumed it was a made-up song. It turns out Love Is All Around was a top 10 hit by The Troggs in 1967 that was written in 10 minutes.

So I picked up Stoicism and the Art of Happiness in hopes of finding a more thorough and structured rendering of this topic. Robertson certainly delivers there. The book is structured like a text book with well-organized chapters that build on each other. Important points are highlighted and summarized throughout.

On top of being a solid general introduction, the book draws connections between Stoicism, modern psychotherapy (particularly CBT), and religion (particularly Buddhism). As someone who hasn’t studied philosophy academically, it was interesting to learn that ancient philosophy was used much more as a pragmatic approach to the “art of living” than it is today. It was the self-help and psychology of its time. Modern philosophy feels more like an academic exercise than a handbook for living the good life. Meanwhile, religion and psychotherapy have tried to fill the role of helping guide people towards happiness and fulfillment.

Robertson draws parallels between the concepts of mindfulness in Buddhism and the cardinal virtue of wisdom in Stoicism. Both encourage the act of catching emotions as they arise before they take control and paying close attention to the space between an event and our reaction. The event is not within our control, only our reaction is.

Connections are also made between the Buddhist practice of loving-kindness and the cardinal virtue of justice, specifically Stoic cosmopolitanism and Hierocles’s concentric circles. Without overtly making it his goal, Robertson presents Stoicism as a comprehensive and completely rational replacement for religion. It’s not a big part of the book, but I found that angle helped pull Stoicism into a more modern and relatable context.

While Buddhism and Stoicism seem to have developed independently, they are remarkably similar in both goals and practice. Conversely, CBT is very much directly inspired by Stoic teachings and happens to be the gold standard for modern evidence-based psychotherapy.

I enjoyed learning a lot more about Stoicism and appreciated this book’s pragmatic “handbook” style. It’s the kind of book I can see myself referring back to frequently in the future.

If you want to skip the blah-biddy-blah, here is the Spotify playlist.

Au Pays du Cocaine, Geese

It’s great to see a band like this really blowing up. A Redditor described them as sounding like the instruments are fighting each other. Their unique sound is anchored by Cameron Winter’s drone-like vocals, burning with intensity despite not giving any fucks at all.

Button, Peaer

A weird and wonderful song. Reminds me of Lomelda’s writing style. Love it. Hats off to Pitchfork for this recommendation.

Ultraviolence, Lifeguard

Another Pitchfork recommendation, this was a new band to my ears. What a find. I absolutely love these guys. They remind me of a male Horsegirl, and it turns out the two bands are both from Chicago and know each other. Also check out “It Will Get Worse” and “Under Your Reach” from their debut album Ripped and Torn. “Ultraviolence” is a wonderfully raw, rapturous thrash and the first single released for a presumably forthcoming second album.

Kurayami, Mei Semones

Mei Semones beautifully blends indie vibes, jazz and Japanese math rock. Her guitar is recorded completely dry, offering no cover for inaccuracy as she rips through blazing fast runs. Despite the song’s complexity, it manages to be quite catchy.

Taka, Pino Palladino (bass), Blake Mills (guitar), feat. Chris Dave (perc)

This highly rhythmic jazz tune has such a killer main riff. Pino leads with a bass line that sets the melody, highlighted with flourishes of guitar processed to sound like a magic flute.

Unoriginal, Magdalena Bay

Magdalena Bay completely blew me away on their Mecurial World tour back in 2022. Since then, their sound has shifted slightly away from the electronic vibe of their previous two albums. The singles they’ve released this year have a considerably more organic feel. “Unoriginal” is a beautiful little indie pop song. The B‑side on this single, “Black-Eyed Susan Climb” is also well worth a listen.

Running Errands (Yesterday), U.S. Girls

This two track single released in October comes just 6 months after Scratch It, a full album released in June. The song features some deft sampling, beautifully layered vocals and an irresistible groove.

Ghosts of Tennessee, Beatrix

This beautiful and melancholy melody reminds me of something Sufjan Stevens could have released twenty years ago. The transition around 2:10 kills me.

Guardians, Midlake feat. Madison Cunningham

Midlake is a band I’ve enjoyed since their fantastic 2006 album, Trials of Van Occupanther. This is one of those bands with albums you can safely just put on and let it run. Madison Cunningham, the indie collab queen of late, lends her creamy vocals. Everything she touches turns to gold. What a blend and what a cool song.

T Shirt, David Byrne

David Byrne is killing it lately with some really solid solo releases and having recently done his debut Tiny Desk — a must watch if you’re Talking Heads fan. Here’s another classic pop tune tilted with his trademark quirkiness and humorous social commentary.

Dusty, Hannah Cohen

A breezy 70s feel gets me every time. And then flutes? Stop it. What a chill and pretty tune. I’d never heard of this artist, but it turns out we share the same birthday! This is from her fourth album, Earthstar Mountain.

Only Girl, Man/Woman/Chainsaw

A Spotify new music recommendation, this oddly named act has yet to release a full album. “Only Girl” is a really strong single with a strongly individual sound, so I look forward to see what else they are doing.

Stevie, Warpaint

I forget how this song came to me — it’s a track off Warpaint’s 2022 album Radiate Like This. An infectious and interesting melody, buttery vocals and super chill production. New to me and on heavy rotation lately.

That’s My DJ, Esther Rose

I don’t know this artist well, but this was a Spotify recommendation and I love it. Her most popular songs on Spotify are lowfi classic country. Not really my thing, but this tune is a definite keeper.

Admit It, yeemz

Super chill tune, beautifully performed and produced. I haven’t been able to find out much about this artist. Her first album was released in July of this year.

Night or Day, Chris Cohen

Reminiscent of early 2000s indie music with a slight prog twist. Great harmony, interesting melody. Love it.

Magic, Sorry

I’d never heard of this band before, but they’ve been putting out music since 2016 and are from London. This super cool tune is off their album Cosplay, released on November 7th.

JUNKIE GARDEN, PINKLIDS

PINKLIDS is yet another case of the opening band at a show absolutely crushing it and stealing the show. To be fair, I wasn’t really there to see the main act, more to see an old friend. But PINKLIDS, a still relatively local band, had mountains of energy on stage and played a ferocious string of prog-punk tunes that left me wanting to see them again soon. It makes my heart swell to see a fledgling local band just crushing it with interesting, beautiful music and energy to spare.

PEPPA POT, Major Lazer

I’ve been a longtime Major Lazer and Diplo fan. This is my favorite track from their album GYALGEBRA, released November 21. An outrageous song, to be sure. So much fun, though.

Here is the poem — the words align with the verse melody; everything else is instrumental.

When harpers once
in wooden hall
A shining chord would strike
Their songs like arrows pierced the soul
Of great and low alike

Aglow by hearth and candleflame
From burning branch of ember
The mist of all their music sang
As if to ask in wonder

Is there a moment quite as keen
Or memory as bright
As light and fire and music (sweet)
To warm the winter’s night?
— Adam Christianson

And here’s the Bitwig audio.

~

Before That

The alarm goes off at 6, playing “We Built This City” by Starship — a song he hates so much that he selected it for this purpose. The dog comes in and sits at the side of the bed, waiting impatiently to be let out and fed. It’s still dark. He lies there for several minutes, willing his eyes open and staring at the ceiling. Counting his obligations for the day, Jonathon Tuttle gradually wakes up.

After taking care of the dog, Jon’s morning routine includes an hour of exercise — it’s weights day. Then coffee, breakfast, shower and the 38-minute commute to work. Habitually late, Jon is often rushed and a little grouchy in the morning. His snapping at Lilly replays on his drive in. He’ll text her an apology and heart emoji once he parks.

Jon spends most of his time working as an accountant. He has been at this job 18 months and has received one verbal and one written warning. It is still in the bin by his desk. On the wall, a Kaizen Continuous Improvement poster helps keep him motivated. It was a company gift during his first real job as a bank teller. Work is time exchanged for money that allows him to live the remaining hours of his day. It is the time outside of work that is Jon’s to shape.

When he arrives home, Lilly has made supper. They eat meatloaf and sip wine spritzers at the kitchen table, chuckling at the day’s news. After dinner, they watch Twin Peaks. Halfway through the second season, Leland has just died.

The day’s obligations met, Jon enjoys an hour or two before bed doing whatever he wants. There are several activities available during this time. Jon considers himself lucky to hold many diverse interests.

Lately it’s been shooting hoops in the driveway. The goal is to make a basket whenever prompted. Jon has never been prompted to make a basket, but scenes frequently run through his mind where he’ll need to perform this task in front of lots of people. Maybe at a Celtics game during halftime, or a company event.

After an hour of practice, he sits on the front steps with a beer, wiping his head with a hand towel. His mind repeats a clip of him just missing the free throw to a smattering of consolation applause. One in four through the hoop? Not good enough. Anyway, it’s getting colder and darker in the evenings, and he hasn’t gotten around to fixing the outdoor light.

Maybe he should spend his free time practicing the saxophone instead. He played in the high school band, sitting next to the beautiful Wendy Higgins. He’s kept it up over the years, playing now and then. There must be bands with grownups he could join. It’s decided.

The next day, they have burgers and home fries for dinner. On Twin Peaks, Nadine gets admitted as a student. Jon and Lilly discuss 14-year-old Nathan’s grades. He needs a pep talk and maybe some help with math. Jon will have a talk with him. He still doesn’t mention the warnings at work.

Afterward, Jon goes downstairs to the den and digs through the closet to find his saxophone case. Opening it releases a familiar smell of polish and mold. On top of the instrument, he finds a note written hastily on a torn electric bill. “Don’t bother.” Jon holds the note in his hand for a moment, staring. He doesn’t remember it, but that’s his handwriting.

How long has it been since he played? Two years? Three? Undeterred, he removes the instrument and attaches the neck strap. Attempting to play a scale, he can’t remember the fingering. He has trouble making any sound at all. He wonders if there’s something wrong with it — could probably use a good cleaning.

The instrument finds its way back into the case and the case back into the closet. The note is still sitting on the table. Jon is sitting on the couch, staring at it, wondering if anyone heard him playing. Before shooting hoops he tried his hand at watercolors. A passable rendering of their house leans against the wall. Before that? He was training for the New York marathon, but couldn’t find the time to rack up enough miles. Before that, he’s not sure.

He can hear Lilly upstairs getting ready for bed. The dog hears it too, gets up off the floor and stands by the door, waiting. He grabs the note on the table, crushes it into a ball and tosses it into the bin. Nothing but net. He thinks about the talk he has to have with Nathan and considers brushing up on his high school math. Maybe he could be a math tutor, pivot into a teaching career. Climbing the stairs to let the dog out, Jon browses used math textbooks on his phone.

Well, sort of. I’ve been a religious user of an online calendar since 2006, so I’ve got a relatively complete account since then. Before then, it’s just what I can remember. I’m missing a lot of mostly smaller shows in the Boston area between 1998 and 2006.

I’ve got this in a spreadsheet, but it doesn’t translate well here, so I had AI format it for me in a list. The spreadsheet also has who I went with, if anyone. Almost a quarter of them were solo.

Here are some stats pulled from the spreadsheet:

• 201 shows/festivals
• 1982 to present
• 85 venues
• 20 cities
• 271 artists

The List

1982-12-04 — Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
NHK Hall, Tokyo, Japan

1984-02-17 — Daryl Hall & John Oates
Tour: H2O
NHK Hall, Tokyo, Japan

1987-03-15 — Pretenders
Opener: Iggy Pop
Centrum, Worcester, MA

1991-09-26 — Grateful Dead
Boston Garden, Boston, MA

1992-09-11 — Guns & Roses, Metallica, Faith No More
Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, MA

1993-06-19 — Peter Gabriel
Tour: Secret World Tour
Centrum, Worcester, MA

1994-05-20 — Pink Floyd
Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, MA

1996-04-12 — Primus
Mullins Center, Amherst, MA

1998-09-15 — Pearl Jam
Great Woods, Mansfield, MA

2000-07-09 — Dave Matthews Band
Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, MA

2000-09-02 — Elliott Smith, Melody Unit, more
Festival: Bumbershoot
Seattle, WA

2000/2001 — Hip Tanaka (twice)
T.T. the Bear’s Place, Cambridge, MA

2001 — Babaloo
Harper’s Ferry, Boston, MA

2001 — Buena Vista Social Club
Orpheum, Boston, MA

2002 — Pedro the Lion
T.T. the Bear’s Place, Cambridge, MA

2003-03-03 — Daryl Hall & John Oates
Orpheum, Boston, MA

2003-08-02 — Phish
Tour/Festival: IT
Loring Air Force Base, Limestone, ME

2005-01-27 — Secret Machines
Middle East Upstairs, Cambridge, MA

2005-06-10 — Dark Star Orchestra
Somerville Theater, Somerville, MA

2005-06-15 — The Pixies
Aganis Arena, Boston, MA

2005-08-04 — Trey Anastasio
Opener: Matisyahu
Bank of America Pavilion, Boston, MA

2005-12-01 — Phil Lesh & Friends
Aganis Arena, Boston, MA

2006-02-17 — Raq
Paradise, Boston, MA

2006-04-12 — Deathcab for Cutie & Franz Ferdinand
Aganis Arena, Boston, MA

2006-06-15 — The Motet, The Cat Empire, Oysterhead, Ben Folds, Bright Eyes, Death Cab for Cutie, My Morning Jacket, G. Love & Special Sauce, Umphrey’s McGee, Disco Biscuits, The Neville Brothers, Beck, Radiohead, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, The Avett Brothers, Zac Brown Band, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Phil Lesh and Friends, Brothers Past, Soulive, Superjam (Trey Anastasio, Mike Gordon, Phil Lesh, Joe Russo, Marco Benevento)
Tour/Festival: Bonnaroo
Great Stage Park, Manchester, TN

2006-06-24 — The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Berklee Performance Center, Boston, MA

2006-07-06 — Phil Lesh & Friends with Trey Anastasio and Mike Gordon
Tweeter Center, Mansfield, MA

2006-07-19 — Danielson
Middle East, Cambridge, MA

2006-08-26 — Alman Brothers
Tweeter Center, Mansfield, MA

2006-09-08 — Sand Machine
Lizard Lounge, Cambridge, MA

2006-10-04 — Everything Orchestra
Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA

2006-10-06 — Umphreys McGee
Palladium, Worcester, MA

2006-10-10 — Badly Drawn Boy
Paradise, Boston, MA

2006-10-14 — James Taylor
Tour/Festival: One Man Band
Wang Center, Boston, MA

2006-10-31 — Disco Bisuits
Orpheum, Boston, MA

2006-11-07 — Album Leaf
Middle East, Cambridge, MA

2006-12-02 — RAQ
Paradise, Boston, MA

2006-12-28 — Trey Anastasio Band
Orpheum, Boston, MA

2007-02-07 — Mozart Requiem
Weston, MA

2007-03-05 — Badly Drawn Boy
Somerville Theater, Somerville, MA

2007-03-23 — Shimon Ben-Shir Group
Acton Jazz Cafe, Acton, MA

2007-04-12 — Umphrey’s McGee
Avalon, Boston, MA

2007-06-16 — Sand Machine
TT The Bears, Cambridge, MA

2007-11-16 — Dark Star Orchestra
Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, MA

2008-06-11 — Lotus
Paradise, Boston, MA

2008-06-24 — Dark Star Orchestra
Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, MA

2008-07-08 — Sand Machine
Tommy Doyles, Cambridge, MA

2008-08-22 — The Berklee Latin Jazz All-Stars
O’Day Park, Boston, MA

2008-10-17 — Return to Forever
Bank of America Pavillion, Boston, MA

2008-11-07 — New Deal
Paradise, Boston, MA

2009-01-07 — Femi Kuti
Paradise, Boston, MA

2009-04-09 — Umphrey’s McGee
House of Blues, Boston, MA

2009-04-18 — The Dead
DCU Center, Worcester, MA

2009-04-19 — The Dead
DCU Center, Worcester, MA

2009-05-27 — Cake
Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, MA

2009-05-31 — Phish
Fenway Park, Boston, MA

2009-06-06 — Phish
Comcast Center, Mansfield, MA

2009-09-23 — Neville Brothers
Boarding House Park, Lowell, MA

2009-11-21 — Dark Star Orchestra
Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, MA

2010-02-12 — Trey Anastasio Band
House of Blues, Boston, MA

2010-10-01 — Dark Star Orchestra
Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, MA

2010-11-12 — Sufjan Stevens
Orpheum, Boston, MA

2011-01-21 — Aimee Mann
Paradise, Boston, MA

2011-03-05 — FURTHER.
Orpheum, Boston, MA

2011-05-12 — Dark Star Orchestra
House of Blues, Boston, MA

2011-06-07 — Phish
Comcast Center, Mansfield, MA

2011-06-30 — Gilded Splinters
Lizard Lounge, Cambridge, MA
Josh Buckley’s band

2011-07-21 — Dark Star Orchestra, Deep Banana Blackout, Dumpstaphunk, Further, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Jane’s Addiction, John Butler Trio, moe., Rubblebucket, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Toots & the Maytals, Wavy Gravy
Tour/Festival: Gathering of the Vibes
Seaside Park, Bridgeport, CT

2011-08-12 — Journey & Foreigner
Comcast Center, Mansfield, MA

2011-08-17 — Derek Trucks Band
Bank of America Pavillion, Boston, MA

2011-10-28 — Blitzen Trapper
Royale, Boston, MA

2012-01-28 — American Idiot (the musical)
Opera House, Boston, MA

2012-02-10 — Umphrey’s McGee
House of Blues, Boston, MA

2012-05-04 — Rubblebucket
Paradise Boston, Boston, MA

2012-09-08 — Various local artists
Tour/Festival: JP Music Festival
Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA

2012-10-27 — Trey Anastasio
Orpheum, Boston, MA

2012-12-08 — Giant Panda Gorilla Dub Squad
Opener: Van Gordon Martin
Brighton Music Hall, Boston, MA

2013-03-22 — Van Gordon Martin
Tour/Festival: CD Release Show
Middle East Downstairs, Cambridge, MA

2013-04-12 — Toots & The Maytals, Galactic feat. David Shaw
House of Blues, Boston, MA

2013-04-28 — Victoria Vox
The Burren, Somerville, MA

2013-07-17 — Furthur featuring Phil Lesh & Bob Weir
Bank of American Pavillion, Boston, MA

2013-08-31 — STS9 and Umphrey’s McGee
Bank of American Pavillion, Boston, MA

2013-11-22 — Rubblebucket
Paradise, Boston, MA

2014-01-18 — Secret Rhythm Project
Electric Haze, Worcester, MA

2014-02-08 — The Black Crows
Tour/Festival: BigNightBoston.com fundraiser
Opener: Fitz and the Tantrums
House of Blues, Boston, MA

2014-06-07 — Dark Star Orchestra
Hampton Beach Casino, Hampton Beach, NH

2014-06-16 — Tune-Yards
Royale, Boston, MA

2014-07-01 — Phish
Xfinity Center, Mansfield, MA

2014-07-20 — Julia Mark
Tour/Festival: Serendipity
Maynard, MA

2014-08-14 — Bob Weir & RatDog
Opener: The Chris Robinson Brotherhood
Blue Hills Bank Pavilion, Boston, MA
Show cancelled due to illness

2014-08-15 — Dub Apocalypse with Van Gordon Martin
Lizard Lounge, Cambridge, MA

2014-10-24 — Lettuce
House of Blues, Boston, MA

2014-11-09 — Rubblebucket
Paradise, Boston, MA

2015-06-04 — Dark Star Orchestra
Tour/Festival: Spring Tour East 2015
Wilbur, Boston, MA

2015-07-05 — The Dead
Tour/Festival: Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years Of The Grateful Dead
Soldier Field (Pay-per-view), Chicago, IL
with Trey Anastasio, Bruce Hornsby

2015-08-06 — James Taylor
Tour/Festival: From Stockbridge to Boston
Opener: Bonnie Raitt
Fenway Park, Boston, MA

2015-11-10 — Dead & Company
DCU Center, Worcester, MA

2016-02-19 — Deep Banana Blackout
Brighton Music Hall, Boston, MA

2016-07-08 — Phish
Xfinity Center, Mansfield, MA

2016-07-15 — Dead & Company
Fenway Park, Boston, MA

2016-11-18 — Caspian
Opener: The Appleseed Cast
Royale, Boston, MA

2017-01-20 — Rubblebucket
Paradise, Boston, MA

2017-05-12 — Meat Puppets
Opener: mike watt + the jom & terry show
Brighton Music Hall, Boston, MA

2017-05-26 — Tool, Major Lazer, Weezer, Run The Jewels, Mitski, The 1975, Tegan and Sara, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Chance The Rapper, Sigur Ros, Sylvan Esso, Mac Demarco
Tour/Festival: Boston Calling (all 3 days)
Harvard Athletic Complex, Cambridge, MA

2017-11-13 — Brit Floyd
Lynn Auditorium, Lynn, MA

2017-12-01 — Tedeschi Trucks Band
Orpheum, Boston, MA

2018-03-08 — Tune-Yards
Royale, Boston, MA

2018-07-07 — Trey Anastasio Band, Slightly Stoopid, Stick Figure
Tour/Festival: Levitate Music and Arts Festival
Marshfield, MA

2018-07-24 — Pixies & Weezer
Comcast Center, Mansfiield, MA

2018-07-28 — Taylor Swift
Tour/Festival: The Reputation Stadium Tour
Opener: Charli XCX, Camila Cabello
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA

2018-08-10 — Pedro the Lion
Brighton Music Hall, Boston, MA

2018-09-08 — Rubblebucket, Caroline Rose, Kalbells, Toth, Diet Cig
Tour/Festival: Rubblebucket’s Dream Picnic
Gateway City Arts, Holyoke, MA

2019-03-09 — Cass McCombs
Sinclair, Cambridge, MA

2019-03-28 — Buke & Gase
Opener: Fusilier
Middle East Upstairs, Cambridge, MA

2019-04-21 — Dub Apocalypse
Bull McCabe’s, Sommerville, MA

2019-06-22 — Dead & Company
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA

2019-07-03 — James Taylor
Tanglewood, Lenox, MA

2019-07-06 — Phish at Fenway
Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Thunderstorm delay

2019-07-09 — Stef Chura
Opener: French Vanilla
Great Scott, Boston, MA

2019-09-13 — Grace VanderWaal
Tour/Festival: Ur So Beautiful Tour
Opener: Patrick Martin
Royale, Boston, MA

2019-09-21 — Rubblebucket
Tour/Festival: Dream Picnic Festival
Opener: STRFKR, And The Kids, Guerilla Toss, Toth, Kalbells, Sun Parade
Gateway City Arts, Holyoke, MA

2019-10-13 — Big Thief
Wilbur, Boston, MA

2019-12-13 — Dopapod
Paradise, Boston, MA

2021-09-18 — Trey Anastasio Band
Leader Bank Pavilion, Boston, MA

2021-09-27 — Phoebe Bridgers
Tour/Festival: Reunion Tour
Opener: MUNA
Leader Bank Pavilion, Boston, MA

2021-10-16 — Lucy Dacus
Tour/Festival: Home Video
Opener: Bartees Strange
House of Blues, Boston, MA

2022-02-08 — Courtney Barnett
Boch Center Wang Theater, Boston, MA
Cancelled due to Covid

2022-04-08 — Snail Mail
Tour/Festival: Valentine Tour
Opener: Joy Again
Royale, Boston, MA

2022-04-13 — Big Thief
Tour/Festival: N/A (DNWMIBIY)
Opener: Kara-Lis Coverdale
Roadrunner, Boston, MA

2022-04-22 — Giant Panda Gorilla Dub Squad
Brighton Music Hall, Boston, MA

2022-05-28 — Metallica, Weezer, Glass Animals, Goose, Japanese Breakfast, Cults, Peach Tree Rascals, Horsegirl
Tour/Festival: Boston Calling
Harvard Athletic Complex, Cambridge, MA

2022-06-08 — Aldous Harding
Opener: H. Hawkline
Sinclair, Cambridge, MA

2022-06-13 — Tune-Yards
Tour/Festival: Sketchy
Opener: Anjmile
Sinclair, Cambridge, MA

2022-07-03 — James Taylor
Tanglewood, Lenox, MA

2022-07-11 — Gillian Welch
Somerville Theater, Somerville, MA

2022-07-15 — Phish at Mansfield
Xfinity Center, Mansfield, MA
Pit

2022-07-24 — Lucy Dacus
Tour/Festival: Home Video
Opener: Samia
The Strand, Providence, RI
Lost power, unplugged start

2022-07-28 — Mitski
Tour/Festival: Laurel Hell Tour
Opener: The Weather Station
Bold Point Park, East Providence, RI

2022-08-05 — Burning Spear
House of Blues, Boston, MA

2022-08-07 — Horsegirl
Tour/Festival: Versions of Modern Performance
Opener: Pet Fox, Dummy
The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA

2022-08-12 — Snail Mail
Tour/Festival: Valentine Tour
Opener: Hotline Tnt, Momma
Fete Music Hall, Providence, RI

2022-08-13 — Hana Vu, Bartees Strange, The Beths, Faye Webster, Caroline Rose*, Lucy Dacus, Courtney Barnett
Tour/Festival: Here And There Fest
Mass MoCa, North Adams, MA
* Caroline Rose filled in for Men I Trust

2022-09-22 — Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets
Schubert, Boston, MA
Rescheduled from January

2022-09-25 — Amyl and the Sniffers
Big Night Live, Boston, MA

2022-09-29 — Japanese Breakfast
Tour/Festival: Jubilee
Opener: Yo La Tengo
Roadrunner, Boston, MA

2022-10-05 — King Princess
Tour/Festival: The Hold On Baby Tour
Opener: St. Panther, two local drag queens
Roadrunner, Boston, MA

2022-10-09 — Remi Wolf
Tour/Festival: Gwingle Gwongle Tour
Opener: Jordana
Roadrunner, Boston, MA

2022-11-06 — Soccer Mommy
Tour/Festival: Touring, Forever
Opener: Lightning Bug
House of Blues, Boston, MA

2022-11-12 — Magdalena Bay
Tour/Festival: The Mercurial Tour
Royale, Boston, MA

2023-02-03 — Big Thief
Tour/Festival: DNWMIBIY
Opener: Buck Meek
College Street Music Hall, New Haven, CT

2023-02-10 — Samia
Tour/Festival: Honey
Opener: Tommy Lefroy
House of Blues, Boston, MA

2023-03-17 — Bogmen
Sinclair, Cambridge, MA

2023-03-24 — Rubblebucket
Tour/Festival: Earth Worship Tour
Opener: Lunar Vacation
Big Night Live, Boston, MA

2023-04-14 — Church of the Cosmic Skull
Sonia, Cambridge, MA

2023-05-01 — Pedro the Lion
Tour/Festival: Anniversaries of Control, It’s Hard to Find a Friend
Sinclair, Cambridge, MA

2023-05-20 — Taylor Swift
Tour/Festival: The Eras Tour
Opener: Gayle, Phoebe Bridgers
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA

2023-05-31 — Christian Lee Hutson, Fenne Lily
Opener: Why Bonnie
The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA

2023-06-18 — boygenius
Tour/Festival: Re:SET Concert Series
Opener: Clairo, Dijon, Bartees Strange
Suffolk Downs, Boston, MA

2023-07-03 — James Taylor
Tanglewood, Lenox, MA

2023-07-21 — Phil Lesh & Friends
Leader Bank Pavilion, Boston, MA
Cut short due to lightning storm

2023-07-31 — Big Thief
Opener: Lucinda Williams
Red Rocks, Morrison, CO
Slightly late start due to lightning

2023-08-18 — Gov’t Mule
Tour/Festival: Dark Side of the Mule
Leader Bank Pavilion, Boston, MA
2nd set Pink Floyd covers

2023-09-01 — Mahavishnu
Tour/Festival: Birds of Fire
Stone Church, Brattleboro, VT

2023-09-22 — Tegan and Sara
Tour/Festival: Crybaby Tour
Opener: Carlie Hanson
Roadrunner, Boston, MA

2023-09-25 — boygenius
Tour/Festival: the tour
Opener: Palehound
MGM Music Hall, Boston, MA

2023-11-18 — Playing Dead
Sanctuary, Maynard, MA

2024-02-16 — Mitski
Opener: Tamino
MGM Music Hall, Boston, MA

2024-03-30 — Dopapod
Paradise, Boston, MA

2024-04-07 — Caroline Rose
Tour/Festival: The Art of Forgetting
Opener: La Force
Royale, Boston, MA

2024-05-14 — Mannequin Pussy
Opener: Soul Glo
Sinclair, Cambridge, MA

2024-05-26 — The Killers, Alvvays, Megan Thee Stallion, Blondshell, Francis of Delirium, The Heavy Heavy
Tour/Festival: Boston Calling
Harvard Athletic Complex, Cambridge, MA

2024-06-22 — Twen
Opener: Small Pond, Raavi
Warehouse XI, Cambridge, MA

2024-06-26 — Horsegirl
Tour/Festival: N/A
Opener: Darksoft, TV Buddha
The Press Room, Portsmouth, NH

2024-07-04 — James Taylor
Tanglewood, Lenox, MA

2024-08-26 — Dark Star Orchestra
Summer Stage at Tree House Brewing Company, Deerfield, MA

2024-10-10 — La Luz
Brighton Music Hall, Boston, MA

2024-10-28 — Clairo
Tour/Festival: Charm Tour
Opener: Alice Phoebe Lou
Roadrunner, Boston, MA

2024-10-30 — Go Team
Sinclair, Cambridge, MA

2024-11-09 — Playing Dead
Sanctuary, Maynard, MA

2024-11-11 — Adrianne Lenker
Tour/Festival: Bright Future Tour
Opener: Suzanne Vallie
Academy of Music Theatre, Northampton, MA

2024-11-12 — Adrianne Lenker
Tour/Festival: Bright Future Tour
Opener: Suzanne Vallie
Shubert Theatre, Boston, MA

2024-12-03 — Dead Ahead
Tour/Festival: A Soulful Tribute to The Grateful Dead
Sanctuary, Maynard, MA

2025-02-07 — Rubblebucket
Tour/Festival: Year of the Banana Tour
Opener: Hannah Mohan
Big Night Live, Boston, MA

2025-03-27 — Horsegirl
Tour/Festival: N/A (Phonetics On and On)
Opener: Free Range
Arts at the Armory, Somerville, MA

2025-04-21 — Lucy Dacus
Tour/Festival: Forever Is a Feeling Tour
Opener: Jasmine.4.t, Katie Gavin
MGM Music Hall, Boston, MA

2025-05-07 — Japanese Breakfast
Tour/Festival: The Melancholy Tour
Opener: Ginger Root
MGM Music Hall, Boston, MA

2025-05-08 — Kevin Atwater
Tour/Festival: The Achilles Tour
Opener: Renny Conti
Sonia, Cambridge, MA

2025-05-21 — Samia
Tour/Festival: The Bloodless Tour
Opener: Raffaella
House of Blues, Boston, MA

2025-07-03 — James Taylor
Opener: Tiny Habits
Tanglewood, Lenox, MA

2025-07-18 — Snail Mail, Dinosaur Jr.
Tour/Festival: N/A
Opener: Easy Action
Roadrunner, Boston, MA

2025-08-03 — Lucy Dacus, Eliza McLamb, Madi Diaz, Margo Price
Tour/Festival: Back Cove Fest
Payson Park, Portland, ME

2025-09-19 — Soccer Mommy
Tour/Festival: Evergreen
Opener: Dummy
Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA

2025-09-26 — Stereolab
Opener: MEMORIALS
Royale, Boston, MA

2025-10-21 — Big Thief
Tour/Festival: Somersault Slide 360 Tour
Opener: Lomelda
MGM Music Hall, Boston, MA

2025-11-14 — Dark Star Orchestra
Orpheum, Boston, MA

2025-11-20 — Weakened Friends
Tour/Festival: Feels Like Hell
Opener: Nova One, Pinklids
Sinclair, Cambridge, MA

“Tumbleweed” is a fun ride and the third single from TWEN’s third studio album, Fate Euphoric, released November 4th. I’m looking forward to seeing these guys live again in February. I am praying they can get Raavi to open for them again.

I stumbled on French artist Oklou via their recent Tiny Desk performance, which opens with a mind-blowing performance of this song, “ict”. Surprisingly, it was not a single from their first full-length studio album, Choke Enough, released back in February. Also check out “take me by the hand” and “harvest sky” on that album.

Tōth is the solo project of Alex Toth, co-founder of one of my favorite bands, Rubblebucket. I have seen Rubblebucket live 10 times and they always deliver. At their Boston show in February, they announced the band was taking a break to pursue solo projects. Last time they did the solo project thing, the band organized a summer festival in Holyoke to showcase both solo projects, introduce their audience to some great upcoming bands (that’s how I was introduced to Caroline Rose) and close out with an epic Rubblebucket performance. “Spiraling” is the first single from either solo project and definitely has a Rubblebucket feel to it.

“Dopus No. 1” by True Loves may be the funkiest song ever. I’d never heard of these guys, but this was one of those YouTube recommendations I absolutely fell in love with.

“Map of Manhattan” by Sorcha Richardson came out 2 years ago, so not technically new, but it’s new to me. I think this was a Spotify recommendation. I really dig the “Eye In The Sky” vibe going on here.

“Ontsnapt” by Dutch artist Eefje de Visser isn’t in English, but I don’t generally pay much attention to lyrics. I love the production and general sound of this, its strong melody and rich vocal harmonies.

“Madonna” is a remake of the song originally released on Toro y Moi’s 2024 studio album, Whole Erth. In September, Unerthed: Hole Erth Unplugged provided us with lush re-imaginings of what was originally recorded as electronic music, often drowning in auto-tune. This arrangement really highlights the song’s melody and happy vibe, and the whole album showcases Toro y Moi’s versatility in the studio.

Just 15 months after her very successful This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway, Lola Young dropped I’m Only F**king Myself in September. I wasn’t crazy about the singles released for this album, but tucked away on track 6 is this gem of an oddball song with a very cool piano bass line and infectious hook, “Penny Out Of Nothing”.

I’m a big Madison Cunningham fan and enjoyed all the singles for Ace, released October 10th. Taken as a whole, it’s her strongest album yet. “Skeletree” is one of the non-singles that hits the mark for what I love about this artist. Really interesting chord changes and melody, beautiful instrumentation. I caught her live at Sinclair in Cambridge during her last tour and was blown away by the level of talent on that small stage. Since then, Cunningham has become one of the artists I have in common with my daughter, and we’re looking forward to catching her Boston show in April.

Speaking of my daughter, she happens to be Lucy Dacus’s #1 fan, and I mean that seriously. This cover of Croce’s “Time in a Bottle” was released on the deluxe version of her recent album, Forever Is A Feeling: The Archives. It’s rare that a cover improves on the original, and especially a classic like this one.

“Money Hits” is a fun and quirky tune from Daughter of Swords sophomore album, Alex, released in April. The production on this album is really interesting, and this song showcases it well.

The third single released ahead of her November 7th album, Love and Fortune, “Feel it Change” is a head-bobbing ear worm. Although this isn’t it, I completely fell in love with the B‑side of the album’s first single, “Standing Ovation”. Like many of Donnelly’s songs, it’s a slow burn but the indie rock jam that starts out of nowhere halfway through is absolute gold.

My daughter turned me onto this tune, and it’s really grown on me. “Coinstar” by Big Dumb Baby.

Francis of Delirium is an indie rock artist from Luxembourg. I loved her 2024 album Lighthouse, and caught her powerhouse show at Boston Calling that year. I’m very excited to see new material coming out. “Little Black Dress” is the first single from what I assume is a forthcoming album.

The reader is left to wonder at the character’s resignation and calm acceptance of their gruesome fate, until it eventually becomes clear that their situation is not so unique. The students know they’re going to die, but they don’t know exactly how or when, or what it will be like. And they’re left to figure out how to live with this knowledge. Sound familiar?

I was also intrigued by Tommy’s animals. Searching for images around this topic yields some interesting visual interpretations, like this one. The book questions the point of art if we’re all going to die. What is the point of anything, really? While it doesn’t give us the answer, it provides a lot of interesting context to weigh in on the conversation.